PENSACOLA, FL, UNITED STATES

02.04.2018

PENSACOLA, Fla. — Experts agree that a proper exercise program carried out on a regular basis can not only help you keep fit and maintain a healthy weight, but can also improve your mental health, quality of life and productivity.

Additionally, being a Sailor is all about becoming the best you can be and physical and mental fitness is an integral part of that. It’s important for everyone to stay fit and healthy, but for CIWT Sailors, it’s essential to have a high level of mental and physical fitness in order to perform at the optimum level.

These are a few reasons why health and fitness are top priorities at the Center for Information Warfare Training (CIWT). Whether training for a triathlon or just trying to stay active, CIWT leadership offers a variety of healthy living opportunities to its Sailors, and wants them to live an active and healthy lifestyle.

“As CIWT's assistant command fitness leader or CFL, I continuously strive to help develop and maintain a culture of fitness and health throughout the command,” said Cryptologic Technician (Technical) 1st Class Brendan Nobles. “I'm fortunate we have great leadership here that participates in our group physical fitness sessions, inspiring others to be the best they can.”

CFLs play an integral part in the overall fitness and readiness of Sailors. CFLs are not only responsible for conducting the bi-annual physical fitness assessment for their commands, but also provide exercise programming and guidance throughout the year to ensure the members of their command maintain physical readiness. CFLs have the skills, education and motivation to lead the way in establishing and maintaining a culture of fitness for their command and the Navy.

Through carefully planned and implemented group physical training sessions led by CIWT’s CFLs, the command is able to maintain a high level of mental and physical combat readiness with healthy, capable Sailors so they're always ready for any mission.

“I'm very impressed with the way our CFL team manages our group physical training sessions and the command’s participation,” said Cmdr. Jeffrey Buschmann, CIWT’s executive officer. “The workouts help build camaraderie and encompass everything from muscular fitness training to agility fitness training, weight lifting to cardiovascular conditioning. Everyone works hard to test their limits and they understand what you put in, is what you get out.”

Research also shows us regular exercise is a key component of a healthy lifestyle, but working out with others may be even better. With group exercise, Sailors are more likely to hold themselves more accountable; build team work; shape mental readiness; develop positive self-concepts; emphasize the value of cooperation; and develop lifelong recreation skills. Additionally, exercising with other hard-working Sailors can motivate them to push each other to power through.

“What I enjoy most about CIWT's physical training program is that our sessions are geared toward team building, added CIWT’s Command Master Chief Mike Bates. “On the field or in the gym, our Sailors complete physical challenges together, push each other and don't let each other quit. In the end, we get a great work out that is a lot of fun and allows us to come together as a one cohesive team.”

Consistent training, flexible group workouts and good nutrition are key to any health and fitness program — and certainly at CIWT. They know fitness is an important of readiness, and the work they put in at the gym will help make them healthier, better workers, less stressed and more focused. In short, the kind of Sailors who can tackle anything and come out on top.

Building and maintaining optimal mental and physical fitness is as much a part of "mission readiness" as it is a part of each Sailor's overall quality of life. Whether looking to improve overall performance or readiness, body composition or general well-being, CIWT is committed to helping their Sailors reach those goals.

Center for Information Warfare Training delivers trained information warfare professionals to the Navy and joint services, enabling optimal performance of information warfare across the full spectrum of military operations.

For more news from Center for Information Warfare Training enterprise, visit http://www.navy.mil/local/cid/, http://www.netc.navy.mil/centers/ciwt/, http://www.facebook.com/NavyCIWT, or http://www.twitter.com/NavyCIWT.